Elias of Leo

Elias von Löwen (also: Elias Kretzschmeyer ; * 1602 in the county of Glatz ; † April 27, 1661 in Pitschen , Silesia ) was a German doctor , mathematician and astronomer .

Life

Elias Kretzschmayer (also: Craitschmair, Kretschmar, Kretschmer ) was born around 1602 as the son of a Protestant pastor in the district of Habelschwerdt in the county of Glatz. He first attended a village school and then the Latin school in Habelschwerdt . For the winter semester of 1619 he enrolled at the University of Frankfurt / Oder and studied medicine, astronomy and mathematics with Professor David Origanus . Kretzschmayer gained his first practical experience as a doctor in Schweidnitz - at that time the most important metropolis in Silesia after Breslau . At the same time he continued to be interested in astronomical calculations.

His first work Horologium zodiacale , which he published in Breslau in 1626, dealt with the calculation of planetary orbits. The report on the state of the firmament and the resulting condition of the people on earth appeared just a year later , which must have been very successful since a second edition was printed in 1682. Between 1626 and 1629 he published three astronomical calendars.

For his services to science he received the hereditary nobility with the predicate "von Löwen" bestowed. He himself used the Latin form "Elias a Leonibus". In Schweidnitz he worked with the local doctor Heinrich Cunitz and got to know his daughter Maria Cunitz , whom he married around 1630 and who was also interested in astronomy.

Because of the effects of the Counter-Reformation , the evangelical couple had to leave Schweidnitz and fled to Poland to the estate of the Cistercian Sisters of the Ołobok Monastery . Here Elias von Löwen supported his wife in her research work on improving the so-called Kepler 's tables. Later he was given the post of city doctor in Pitschen / Silesia, where he died in 1661.

Fonts

• David Wiese: Christian trawler and lament sermon / About the saddened / But Christian and blessed farewell / the… Frawen Ursulae Hasin , Breslau 1617. (Contains a Latin mourning poem by Elias Kretzschmayer on the death of the pastor's wife Ursula Mensch, née Hase) Directory of the 17th century prints, VD number = 39: 107010W
• Horologium zodiacale, sive Tabulae perpetuae, justam et veram singularum horarum planetarium quantitatem per totum annum complectentes: That is: Ever-protective magic or planetary hour pointer. The certain size of all planets indicates hours throughout the year; ... computed on the elevation 50th gr. 48th min. but so / that they can be used reductive throughout Germany; In addition to the previous amicable report like this . Breslau 1626. List of prints from the 17th century, VD number = 23: 289356W
• Report on the condition of the firmament and the subsequent condition of the peoples on earth: Item: From war and other misfortunes etc .; In addition to a rota mundi . The latter is a world wheel included as a copper engraving. Breslau 1627. List of prints from the 17th century, VD number = 3: 303750X
• Newer and old calendar on the year of Christ 1627… Brewsslaw. Printed in the year 1626 Prognosticon anstrologicum or Astrological cover about this 1627 year. … Wroclaw University Library , Old Prints Department, call number: 542 593
• Newer and Alter Calendar on the leap year of Christ 1628 ... printed in the Princely City of Brieg by Augustinum Gruender In laying David Mueller's book dealer In Bresslaw astrologically cover this 1628 year. … Wroclaw University Library, manuscript department, signature: B 2000 bb
• Newer and Alter Calendar… on the year of the birth of Christ 1629… printed in the Fuerstliche Stadt Brieg by Augustinum Gruendern. In relocation of David Mueller's book dealer in Bresslaw astrological cover… Dasz 1629 year University Library Wroclaw, manuscript department, signature: B 2000 dd
• Report on the condition of the firmament / and the subsequent condition of the Völcker auff Erden ... Vormahlen zu Breßlau printed in the year 1626. However, published again at the request of many distinguished and learned people. Breslau 1682. List of prints from the 17th century, VD number = 39: 128596G

literature

• Wlodzimierzi Kaczorowski: Elias v. Loeben, lekarzem miejskim w Byczynie (A doctor from Pitschen). In: Kwartalnik Opolski , March 41 (1995) pp. 101-104.
• Paul Knötel: A Doctor in the 17th Century . In: Der Oberschlesier , Vol. 15 (1933), pp. 36–39.
• Hermann Koelling: History of the City of Pitschen , Breslau 1892, pp. 90f, 171f and 187f.
• Johannes Sinapius : Silesian Curiosities Presentation, in which the handsome families of the Silesian nobility with narration of the origin, the coat of arms, genealogies, the most qualified cavaliers, the family houses and estates are described , Vol. 2, Leipzig 1728, p. 791.
• Siegmund Günther:  Löwen, Elias von . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 19, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1884, p. 311 f.
• Löwen or a Leonibus, Elias von. In: Johann Heinrich Zedler : Large complete universal lexicon of all sciences and arts . Volume 18, Leipzig 1738, column 237.

Web links

• Publications by and about Elias von Löwen in VD 17 .